MILAN—Multiple St. Louis Blues are representing their home countries in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina but it’s the team’s rookie who stole the starlight this week.
In the first Olympic game for Team Slovakia, Dalibor Dvorsky, a Blues center, gave the Slovaks a 2-1 lead shortly into the third period against Team Finland. The goal turned out to be the game-winning goal and he also had two points. Dvorsky is 20 years old, the youngest Slovak player to score at the Olympics with NHL players.
Despite outshooting the Slovaks 40-25, Finland fell 4-1 with the Minnesota Wild goalie, Samuel Hlavaj, making 39 saves for the Slovaks. Montreal Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovsky had two goals and an assist. Dvorsky spoke high praise of his country’s goalie.
“He was fantastic all game long,” said Dvorsky. “He made some huge saves, saves that most of the goalies can’t make. He is a world-class goalie, and he showed it today.”
Team Slovakia feels they can beat anyone after stunning Finland. Their next game is on Friday against Team Italy at 5:10 a.m.